Browns coach Pettine: Josh McCown the 'likely' QB starter

by Elliott Smith | Staff Writer

(7/27/15) Browns coach Mike Pettine, during a session with local reporters on the verge of the team's training camp, reiterated that veteran Josh McCown is the likely starter at quarterback, with Johnny Manziel entrenched in the No. 2 spot, per the Akron Beacon Journal.

Pettine added that while he couldn't guarantee McCown would start in the season opener against the Jets, that the experienced signal-caller is firmly the team's top choice at the position heading into camp.

Browns OC: Josh McCown has edge over Johnny Manziel for Week 1

by Sean d'Oliveira | CBSSports.com

(6/18/15) While the Browns are nearly three months away from their regular-season opener, offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said the team would start quarterback Josh McCown over Johnny Manziel if the season opened Thursday, reports Cleveland.com.

"I'm gonna echo coach [Mike] Pettine's words, because he and I are on the exact same page about this," DeFilippo said. "I don't see a change for right now going into training camp. I just don't. I think Josh is playing at a high level right now. I think Josh is doing the things we want him to do. There's a long time before we kick off against the Jets. There's four preseason games to play."

Although McCown is ahead of Manziel on the depth chart after the team's offseason program, DeFilippo said a lot could change before the season starts.

"Last year I was at a place where we were sold on a starter, too [in Matt Schaub], and then a rookie [Dererk Carr] came in and outplayed him in the preseason," he said. "I think coach said [Thursday] there were 86 days or something like that until we kick off against the Jets. So 86 days in the NFL world is an eternity. For right now, if we were lining up against the Jets tomorrow, which we're not, I wouldn't see that changing, no."

Browns' Josh McCown not bothered by 'game manager' label

by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(5/28/15) Browns quarterback Josh McCown brushes off the negative connotation around phrases like "game manager" and "building around the quarterback," per the team's website.

"That stuff doesn't bother me," McCown said after Tuesday’s OTA. "We're trying to win a championship. You can call it what you want to call it. I just want to win football games. That's my main focus. I understand who I am and how I want to go about winning football games. That's the key for us."

"I think he sees that as potentially a way to win football games," Pettine said. "I think virtually any quarterback in the league, if we said, ‘Hey, we want to get you in second-and-5 and not second-and-11. We want to get you in third-and-2 and not third-and-8,’ I think they’d all be appreciative of that."

McCown also had praise for his new offensive line after getting to work with the unit.

"I knew they were physically good, you see it on tape, but these guys are so smart," McCown said. "It's rare to get a group of five guys that can really see the field the way they do. I've said this all along, they were a big reason why I wanted to come here. After being with them now the last five or six weeks, had I known it was this good, I might not have even had to take a visit (before signing). They're really sharp. I'm looking forward to continuing to work with them."

"We’re not going to start talking competition," Pettine said, per the Chronicle-Telegram. "Josh will more than likely be the starter going into camp, and in the foreseeable future I don’t see that changing."

Last year's first-round draft pick, Johnny Manziel, spent 10 weeks in rehab after a disappointing rookie season. Pettine said he didn't need to worry about competing for the starting job at this point.

"We want him, essentially, with horse blinders on," he said. "Focus on his job, getting up every day, perfecting his craft, whatever it is, homework that the quarterbacks have or come out and working on his footwork, his releases. That he’s much more concerned about himself than really anything else."

Browns' Pettine: Josh McCown favorite to enter camp as starter

by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(5/4/15) Browns coach Mike Pettine said in a radio interview Monday that it's "fair to say" that Josh McCown will enter camp as the team's starting quarterback, the Northeast Ohio Media Group reports.

Pettine had said in April that he wasn't ready to name McCown the likely starter for anything, but after the Browns came out of draft weekend without a new quarterback on the roster, it appears the former Buccaneers starter is in line to open camp atop the depth chart at the position.

McCown started 11 games with the Buccaneers last season, completing 56.3 percent of his passes while throwing 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Josh McCown signed with the Browns and will compete for the starting job in camp this summer. But even if he wins the gig, Fantasy owners won't be in a hurry to put him on rosters. The Browns passing game is devoid of elite playmakers and McCown himself is far from a lock for two touchdowns and a bunch of yards without a turnover regardless of the opponent. McCown is at best a reserve in leagues that start two quarterbacks.
(Updated 4/21/15)